Review Revue: ‘The Lucky One,’ ‘Think Like a Man,’ ‘Chimpanzee’

This week at the multiplex, we’ve got “The Lucky One,” an adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel starring Zac Efron; “Think Like a Man,” based on Steve Harvey’s relationship advice book; and Disneynature’s primate documentary “Chimpanzee,” with narration from Tim Allen. Find out what the critics have to say.

“The Lucky One”

At this point, we know what we’re getting from a film based on a Nicholas Sparks novel: syrupy romance and melodramatic plot twists. Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that, and critics say “The Lucky One” has moments of escapism, but it’s ultimately hampered by an overabundance of schmaltzy clichés. Zac Efron stars as a Marine serving in Iraq who finds a photo of an unknown woman in the desert, which he carries with him until the end of his tour of duty and seems to bring him good luck. Upon returning to the States, he treks across the country to find her, and passion ensues. “The Lucky One” is currently at 29 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer; check out some of the reviews here:

Rotten: “At this point, Sparksian romances unfold via their own preordained formula, and measures of their merits largely hinge on how well each can bend the cookie-cutter.” — R. Kurt Osenlund, Slant Magazine

Rotten: “Like its performers, ‘The Lucky One’ isn’t bad, so much as achingly banal, the sort of instantly consumable and forgettable factory-produced love story that leaves you with no impression whatsoever.” — David Fear, Time Out New York

Rotten: “['The Lucky One' has] a plot that resembles a game of checkers rather than chess.” — Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Fresh: “The sun breaks through the clouds, you smile through your tears, and your cynicism — even the tiny voice in your head crying out, ‘Wait, none of this makes any sense!’ — is silenced by sweet music and swelling sentiment.” — A.O. Scott, New York Times

“Think Like a Man”

Sometimes an excellent cast can elevate even the most shopworn material. Case in point: “Think Like a Man,” which critics say would be a pretty mediocre romantic comedy if not for the combined efforts of its players. Based upon Steve Harvey’s self-help tome “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” the film follows four guys (including Michael Ealy and Kevin Hart) whose love interests have treated them differently after reading the book. As a result, the guys decide to scour its contents for advice on how to turn the tables on the ladies (whose ranks include Meagan Good, Regina Hall, and Taraji P. Henson). “Think Like a Man” is at 57 percent on the Tomatometer; read what the critics have to say here:

Fresh: “There’s not a single conversation that isn’t about the mechanics of dating, or some other issue of conflict between the genders, but this cast is so uniformly engaging and charismatic that they make the whole thing work.” — Alonso Duralde, The Wrap

Rotten: “While the result deserves some credit for finding a creative way to bring the book to life, the overlapping storylines simply aren’t compelling enough, despite the best efforts of a game and attractive cast.” — Brian Lowry, Variety

Since 2009, Disneynature has celebrated Earth Day with a feature length nature documentary. This year’s selection is “Chimpanzee,” and critics say it’s a remarkably intimate look at our primate friends — though it’s sometimes over reliant on heavy-handed narration. “Chimpanzee” is the story of Oscar, a young chimp growing up among within an extended family; when things take a dark turn for the little ape, he gets support from an unexpected source. “Chimpanzee” is currently at at 75 percent on the Tomatometer; read what the critics have to say here:

Fresh: “Fothergill and Linfield really do capture some awesome footage of the chimpanzees in the wild. Who knew watching them crack nuts with sticks and rocks could be so entertaining? Or use a stick to eat ants?” — Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Fresh: “It has plenty of charm and is filled with astonishingly intimate footage worth seeing on the big screen but is sketchy on details and dumbed down by cutsy, anthropomorphizing narration.” — Mary F. Pols, Time Magazine

Rotten: “In seeking to make frothy entertainment out of the growing pains of an orphaned baby chimp named Oscar, with an insipid story and almost mocking narration by Tim Allen, it runs counter to its professed scientific intentions.” — Peter Howell, Toronto Star

For more movie reviews, trailers, and pictures, check out Rottentomatoes.com.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.